Device for carrying off water from musical instruments



To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATES GEORGE F. DALLON, OF

DEVICE FOR CARRYING OFF WATE FLATBUSH, NEW YORK.

R FROM MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,218, dated April 21, 1863.

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. DALLoN, of the town of Flatbush, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and improved mode of eft'ectually carrying o the water as it generates or collects from sax-horns, tub'as, cornets, and all other and similar musical instruments made of brass or other metal, and preventing the collection of and obviating the necessity ot` turning out the same, as heretofore, Without in any manner damaging the instrument or impairing the quality or volume of its tone; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description, to wit:

The nature of my invention consists lin providing the instrument with an aperture at the point or points where, from the nature of the construction and manner of holding the same while in use, the Water is most liable to collect, which aperture is closed by aplug, which will absorb the water as fast as it generates and effectually carry it oft', thereby entirely preventing that crackling disagreeable sound Which will inevitably result from the slightest accumulation of moisturein the slides or bends ot' the instrument, and relieving the performer of any apprehensions on account thereof, and obviating the necessity ot' his ceasing his performance for the purpose of removing' the water.

To enable othersskilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, and will rst explain the accompanying drawing, to which the description refers.

C O is the slide or bends of the instrument, in which the water collects. D represents the tube, pierced at the point where the Water is most liable to collect; A, a small tube, with a thread on the inside, to be soldered on the pipe C C and over the aperture D. B is the plug, lled with sponge or other absorbing material, and screws into the tube A. E is a transverse section of the whole when joined and in place.

I take any instrument ofthe kind above mentioned, and at the point or points where,

from causes before named, the water is liable to collect, I pierce or perforate the pipe or tube O O ofthe instrument by making a small opening, as shown at D in the accompanying drawing, and to this pipe, and directly over and around the opening D, I solder a short tube, A, furnished with a thread on the inside to receive the plug B, lled with sponge or other absorbing material, which screws in tight on the instrument and flush with the aperture therein, and completely flllin g the same, thereby in effect supplying the place of the portion of the instrument cut out to make the aperture. The cap, top,or outside of this plug is perforated or arranged in such a manner as to permit the free egress of the water, and at'the same time retain the sponge or other absorber in its place and prevent its fall ing out.

The section E represents the appearance of the plug when in position.

When the sponge or other absorber is completely saturated (and care should be taken to see that it is so before being used) and screwed to its place on the instrument, no air can pass into or out ofthe instrument by reason of the aperture under the ordinary and necessary pressure required in playing, while the water, as fast as it generates, is absorbed, drips through the sponge and perforated cap of the plug, and passes completely off, leaving the instrument not onlyfree from water, but effectually prevents the possibility of any water being generated in it.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The application to musical instrumentssuch as mentionedof any absorbing or ilter ing material capable of absorbing and retaiuing moisture over, to, or upon any perforation or opening in the instrument, either as hereinbefore described or in any other way which will produce the intended effect.

Dated Fatbush, February 27, 1863.

GEORGE F. DALLON.

Witnesses:

HENRY DITMAS, J oHN WINsLoW. 

